Parallel Universes: The Summit and the Campaign

Friday, April 01, 2016 - 01:32

President Obama is hosting world leaders for his final nuclear summit in Washington, against a backdrop of Republican front runner Trump calling for Japan and South Korea to pay for their own defense against North Korea. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

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Key U.S. allies from Asia pour in to Washington as U.S. President Barack Obama hosts his final Nuclear Security Summit.
The summit comes against a back drop of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and a contentious presidential campaign in the U.S.
But it was a message of unity that Obama stressed as he sat down with the leaders of Japan and South Korea.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, SAYING:
"We are united in our efforst to deter and defend against North Korean provocations."
That North Korean activity has rattled its Asian neighbors.
But so too has Republican front runner Donald Trump who's delivering a very different message from the president's.
He says allies that rely on U.S. military support should start footing the bill.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:
"I love all of them but it is time they have to pay up."
While so far there has certainly has been no public talk at the summit about the U.S. presidential campaign -- what happens behind closed doors may be a different story.